Improvement in animal-traps



y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J. W. CHURCHILL, OF PITTSTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN ANIMAL-TRAPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 49,378, dated August 15, 1865.

proved Rat and Mouse Trap; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,.and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings,formiugpartof this specitication, in which- Figure l is a vertical section ot' my invention, taken in the line man, Fig.2;`Fig. 2, avertical section of the same, taken in the line y y, Fig. l.

bimilar leiters of reference indicate like parts.

rIhis inventionconsists in providing a rat and mouse trap with a door, arranged in such a manner that it will remain open at all times, whether an animal is in or out of the trap, but will close whenever an animal attempts to get out ofthe same.

The object of the invention is to obtain a simple and eflcient trap, which will always he set, and will not be liable to get-outot repair.

A represents a box, which may be ofrectangular or other proper form, andhaving an opening, B, in one side ot' it.

O is a plate, which is placed in front of the opening B, with a space between the plate and the side ofthe box of suflcient width to allow a door, D, to slide freely up and down. The plate O has an opening, a, made in it of sucient capacity to admit ot' a rat or mouse passing through it.

E E represent two inclined rods or bars, the lower ends of which are fitted in sockets b b on the plate C. These rods E E may be formed otl one piece of wire bent to form three sides of a quadrangle, with a loop, c, at each angle. (See Fig. 2.) The rods form a support for two rods, F F, the inner ends of which are connected by links G G with the door D, and

the outer ends connected by a rod, H, with a treadle-frame composed of two rods, I I, which may be formed o f a single piece of wire, if desired. The rods F F are bent around the horizontal part d of the piece of wire of which the rods E E are formed, and are allowed to work freely thereon, and the rods I Iare bentW around a rod, J, which is in the lower part of the space between the plate O and the side of the box A, the rods I I extending within the box and having a plat-form, It, upon them. The rods I I have a weight, K, upon them to serve as a counterpose and keep the door l) elevated when no weight is upon them.

From the above description it will be seen that an animal iu passing upon the rods I I, and thence through the opening ain the plate O, and into the box A upon the platform PF, will,".when upon the platform, close the door D, the weight ofthe animal eectiug that result. When theanimal leaps from the platform down into the box A the door D will of course rise, but the animal cannot escape from the box, for as soon as he leaps upon the platform the 'door D instantly closes. y

Ihus it will be seen that a very simple and efcient self-setting trap isobtained, and one that will not be liable to get out of repair or become deranged by use.

For transportation the rods E E and I I may be detached from the box, the platform I* removed, and all the parts connected with the door-operating mechanism compactly folded.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The combination of the counterbalanced platform-bar I 1*, gate D, and their rod and lever connections, operating in combination with the platform, stop, and the box A, as and for the purpose described. A

Witnesses J. E. RICHMOND, THOMAS STERN.

J. w. cHUEcHILn. 

